Medical canister connectors

ABSTRACT

A medical canister connector is presented for connecting to a medical canister, which has a patient port and a reduced-pressure port. The medical canister connector includes a first connection member that is coupled to a patient-port-attachment member, which is for coupling to a patient port on a medical canister and has a patient-port opening with a first longitudinal axis. The medical canister connector also includes a second connection member coupled to a reduced-pressure-port-attachment member, which is for coupling to a reduced-pressure port on the medical canister and has a reduced-pressure-port opening with a second longitudinal axis. A spacing member or pressure transport member may be used to couple the first connection member to the second connection member. The spacing member or transport member flexes and twists during connection. The medical canister connector may also help organize one or more pressure-sensing conduits. Methods are also presented.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/467,153, entitled “Medical Canister Connectors,” filed on May 15,2009 which claims the benefit, under 35 USC §119(e), of the filing ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/109,439, entitled “AMedical Canister Connector,” filed Oct. 29, 2008. All of theseapplications are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to medical treatment systemsand, more particularly, to medical canister connectors and methods.

In a number of medical applications, fluids, such as blood, ascites, andexudates from wounds, are removed from a patient and need to be storedfor disposal or processing. The removal of these fluids may be theprimary purpose of a treatment or a secondary result. For example, inmany surgical procedures, it is common to apply suction to remove blood.As another example, in applying reduced-pressure therapy, or negativepressure wound therapy, fluids are removed and must be stored orprocessed.

The removed fluids are often stored in medical canisters. The medicalcanisters receive fluids from the patient and receive suction, orreduced pressure, from a reduced-pressure source. The canisters come invarying sizes and designs. The canisters typically need changing orremoval on a regular basis. Existing systems for attaching areduced-pressure source to a canister and for attaching a patientconduit to the canister require considerable attention with thepossibility of significant error existing.

SUMMARY

Problems with existing medical canisters and systems are addressed bythe illustrative embodiments described herein. According to oneillustrative embodiment, a medical canister connector for releasablyconnecting to a medical canister, which has a patient port and areduced-pressure port, includes a first connection member for couplingto a first reduced-pressure delivery conduit; a patient-port-attachmentmember for coupling to the patient port on the medical canister andhaving a patient-port opening and a first longitudinal axis. The firstpatient-port-attachment member is coupled to the first connectionmember. The illustrative medical canister connector further includes asecond connection member for coupling to a second reduced-pressuredelivery conduit; a reduced-pressure-port attachment member for couplingwith a reduced-pressure port on the medical canister and having areduced-pressure-port opening and a second longitudinal axis; and aspacing member having a first end and a second end. The first end of thespacing member is coupled to the first connection member and the secondend of the spacing member is coupled to the second connection member.The medical canister connector has a free position and is operable to bemaneuvered into a loading position.

A medical canister connector for releasably connecting to a medicalcanister, which has a patient port and a reduced-pressure port, includesa first connection member for coupling to a first reduced-pressuredelivery conduit and for coupling to a first pressure-sensing conduit; apatient-port-attachment member for coupling to the patient port on themedical canister and having a patient-port opening and a firstlongitudinal axis. The first patient-port-attachment member is coupledto the first connection member. The medical canister connector furtherincludes a second connection member for coupling to a secondreduced-pressure delivery conduit and for coupling to a secondpressure-sensing conduit; a reduced-pressure-port-attachment member forcoupling with a reduced-pressure port on the medical canister and havinga reduced-pressure-port opening and a second longitudinal axis; and apressure transport member having a first end and a second end. The firstend of the pressure transport member is coupled to the first connectionmember and the second end of the pressure transport member is coupled tothe second connection member. The medical canister connector has a freeposition and the canister is operable to be maneuvered into a loadingposition.

A method for manufacturing a medical canister connector includes thestep of forming a body from a soft thermoplastic polymer to form amedical canister connector. The step of forming a body may includeinjection molding, thermoforming, thermosettting, overmolding, orsubstractive machining.

A method for connecting a medical canister, which has a patient port anda reduced-pressure port, to a first reduced-pressure conduit, a firstpressure-sensing conduit, a second reduced-presure conduit, and a secondpressure-sensing conduit includes the steps of providing a medicalcanister connector; providing a flexing force on a pressure transportmember of the medical canister connector such that an angle alpha (α)formed by intersection of a first longitudinal axis and a secondlongitudinal axis is greater than 90 degrees and so that a patient-portopening interfaces with a patient port on the medical canister while areduced-pressure-port opening interfaces with a reduced-pressure port onthe medical canister; and releasing the flexing force.

Objects, features, and advantages of the illustrative embodiments willbecome apparent with reference to the drawings and detailed descriptionthat follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is schematic diagram, with a portion shown in cross section, of areduced pressure treatment system and including an illustrativeembodiment of a medical canister connector;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, perspective view of the medical canisterconnector of FIG. 1 shown on a portion of a medical canister;

FIG. 3 is a schematic, elevational view of the medical canisterconnector of FIGS. 1-2; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic, cross sectional view of the medical canisterconnector of FIGS. 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof.These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable thoseskilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood thatother embodiments may be utilized and that logical structural,mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail notnecessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodimentsdescribed herein, the description may omit certain information known tothose skilled in the art. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of theillustrative embodiments are defined only by the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, and initially to FIG. 1, an illustrativeembodiment of a medical canister connector 100 is shown as part of areduced-pressure treatment system 102. While the medical canisterconnector 100 is presented in the context of the reduced-pressuretreatment system 102, it should be understood that the medical canisterconnector 100 might be used with any medical system involving the needto connect conduits to a medical canister. Other examples of medicalsystems might include a surgical suction system, a medical drainagesystem, or an open-abdomen reduced-pressure system.

In this illustrative embodiment, the reduced-pressure treatment system102 provides reduced-pressure treatment to a tissue site 104 on apatient. The tissue site 104 may be the bodily tissue of any human,animal, or other organism, including bone tissue, adipose tissue, muscletissue, dermal tissue, vascular tissue, epithelial tissue, connectivetissue, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, or any other tissue. The tissuesite 104 may be within a body cavity, such as an abdominal cavity. Thetreatment by the reduced-pressure treatment system 102 may includeremoving fluids, such as ascites or exudates, delivering of reducedpressure, or providing a protective barrier. Unless otherwise indicated,as used herein, “or” does not require mutual exclusivity.

Reduced pressure is delivered through a conduit 106 to areduced-pressure interface 108. The reduced-pressure interface 108delivers the reduced pressure to a manifold 110 that is adjacent thetissue site 104. The tissue site 104 is shown as a wound, or damagedarea of tissue, that involves epidermis 112 and other tissue layers. Apneumatic seal is formed over the patient's epidermis 112 by a sealingmember 114 that has an attachment device 116, such as an adhesive on apatient-facing side 118. The conduit 106 may be a dual-lumen conduitwherein one lumen delivers reduced pressure and transports removedfluids, such as exudates or ascites. The other lumen of conduit 106 mayprovide a pressure-sensing lumen to allow the pressure at the tissuesite 104 to be measured or otherwise determined by a remote measuringdevice. The conduit 106 could contain additional lumens, but in thisexample is a dual-lumen design.

The conduit 106 is fluidly coupled to, or in fluid communication with,an interface member 120. The interface member 120 fluidly couples thefirst lumen to a first reduced-pressure conduit 122 and fluidly couplesthe second lumen to a first pressure-sensing conduit 124. The firstreduced-pressure conduit 122 is coupled to a first connection member 126of the medical canister connector 100. The first pressure-sensingconduit 124 is also coupled to the first connection member 126.

As shown clearly in FIG. 4, the first connection member 126 may beformed with a first reduced-pressure-conduit opening 128 and a firstpressure-sensing-conduit opening 130. The first pressure-sensing-conduitopening 130 may be a tubular entry port that receives and surrounds thewhole circumference of the first pressure-sensing conduit 124, or thefirst pressure-sensing-conduit opening 130 may be a channel opening,e.g., could be an extension or part of channel 186, in which only aportion of the circumference of the first pressure-sensing conduit 124is secured. The first reduced-pressure conduit 122 may be coupled in thefirst reduced-pressure-conduit opening 128 by solvent bonding,interference fit, adhesive, or other means to achieve a substantiallyfluid-tight connection. Similarly, the first pressure-sensing conduit124 may be coupled in the first pressure-sensing-conduit opening 130 bysolvent bonding, interference fit, adhesive, or other means.

The medical canister connector 100 is also coupled to a secondreduced-pressure conduit 132 that delivers reduced pressure from areduced-pressure unit 134. The reduced-pressure unit 134 includes areduced-pressure source, such as a vacuum pump (not shown) or othermeans of supplying reduced pressure that may be contained within housing136. The second reduced-pressure conduit 132 enters the housing 136 at areduced-pressure-housing port 138 and is fluidly coupled to thereduced-pressure source within the reduced-pressure unit 134.

The medical canister connector 100 is also coupled to a secondpressure-sensing conduit 140 that delivers pressure to thereduced-pressure unit 134. The second pressure-sensing conduit 140enters the housing 136 at a pressure-sensing-housing port 142. Ameasuring device within the housing 136 of the reduced-pressure unit 134receives the second pressure-sensing conduit 140 and is able to measureor determine the pressure existing at tissue site 104. It should benoted that the first pressure-sensing conduit 124 and the secondpressure-sensing conduit 140 may be an integral conduit as is shown.

The medical canister connector 100 facilitates easy connection of thefirst reduced-pressure conduit 122 and the second reduced-pressureconduit 132 to a medical canister 144 and more particularly to a lid 146of the medical canister 144. Preferably, a healthcare provider is ableto install the medical canister connector 100 to a medical canister 144with one movement; that is, instead of having to couple two conduits oneat a time to two ports, the healthcare provider is able to take hold ofthe medical canister connector 100 and apply the medical canisterconnector 100 in one operation to the lid 146. The use of medicalcanister connector 100 is discussed further below. Moreover, as a safetymeasure, the medical canister connector 100 is configured so that thefirst reduced-pressure conduit 122 and second reduced-pressure conduit132 may only be attached in the proper way without an obvious deviation;this is to minimize or eliminate the possibility of an error being madein treatment. Alternatively, the medical canister connector 100 maytransport, e.g., in an internal passageway, the pressure in the firstpressure-sensing conduit 124 to the second pressure-sensing conduit 140.

The medical canister 144 may be any canister that requires conduits tobe attached accurately and preferably easily. An off-the-shelf medicalcanister may provide economic advantages for patients and healthcareproviders and as such is preferred. The medical canister connector 100may be sized and configured to work with a particular model of a medicalcanister. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, the medicalcanister 144 might be an 800 cc hydrophobic rigid canister, whichincludes a hydrophobic shutoff filter, available from BeamisManufacturing Company of Sheboygan Falls, Wis. The medical canisterconnector 100 will be further explained in the illustrative context ofworking with this medical canister, but it should be understood that themedical canister connector 100 could easily be used with otheroff-the-shelf medical canisters by adjusting the dimensions and locationof components. The lid 146 of the medical canister 144 has a patientport 148, which is horizontal (for the orientation shown in FIG. 1), anda reduced-pressure port 150, or suction port, which is vertical (for theorientation shown in FIG. 1).

The first connection member 126 is fluidly coupled to the firstreduced-pressure conduit 122 and may be fluidly coupled to the firstpressure-sensing conduit 124 as previously noted. Apatient-port-attachment member 152 is coupled to the first connectionmember 126 and formed with a patient-port-attachment body 153 having apatient-port opening 154. The patient-port opening 154 ofpatient-port-attachment member 152 may be formed with a plurality ofsealing ribs 156 to help form an interference fit with the patient port148 on the medical canister 144. The patient-port opening 154 may alsobe tapered to further facilitate an interference fit with the patientport 148 on the medical canister 144. In the installed position, thepatient-port opening 154 and patient port 148 form a substantiallyfluid-tight connection. The volume within the patient-port opening 154has a first longitudinal axis 157.

A stopper 158, or cap, may be coupled with a strap 160 to the firstconnection member 126, and the stopper 158 may be sized and configuredto seal off the patient-port opening 154 when the medical canisterconnector 100 is not in use or is being changed. Use of the stopper 158prevents fluids from leaking through patient-port opening 154 when themedical canister connector 100 is not in use or a medical canister 144is being changed.

A second connection member 162 may be formed with a secondreduced-pressure-conduit opening 164 and a secondpressure-sensing-conduit opening 166. The second reduced-pressureconduit 132 may be coupled in the second reduced-pressure-conduitopening 164 by solvent bonding, interference fit, adhesive, or othermeans to achieve a substantially fluid-tight connection. Similarly, thesecond pressure-sensing conduit 140 may be coupled in the secondpressure-sensing-conduit opening 166 by solvent bonding, interferencefit, adhesive or other means. The second connection member 162 alsoincludes a reduced-pressure-port attachment member 168 having areduced-pressure-port body 170 formed with a reduced-pressure-portopening 172. The volume within the reduced-pressure-port opening 172 hasa second longitudinal axis 174.

The second reduced-pressure-conduit opening 164 may extend until itintersects the reduced-pressure-port opening 172 and thereby forms afluid path for reduced pressure to flow into the secondreduced-pressure-conduit opening 164 and out of thereduced-pressure-port opening 172. As used herein, “fluid” may include agas or a liquid. The reduced-pressure-port opening 172 may be formedwith a plurality of sealing ribs 176 on an interior surface of thereduced-pressure-port opening 172 to help form an interference fit whenthe reduced-pressure-port opening 172 is placed on the reduced-pressureport 150 of the lid 146 of the medical canister 144. The interiorsurface of the reduced-pressure-port opening 172 may also be tapered tofurther facilitate an interference fit. In the installed position, thereduced-pressure-port opening 172 and the reduced-pressure port 150achieve a substantially fluid-tight connection.

The first connection member 126 and second connection member 162 may beused to transition conduit sizes. For example, the firstreduced-pressure conduit 122 may be a small diameter conduit, but thefirst connection member 126 allows the first reduced-pressure conduit122 to be fluidly coupled to a larger diameter patient port 148 on themedical canister 144. The first connection member 126 and secondconnection member 162 may be used to transition conduit sizes from smallto large or large to small.

In one embodiment, the medical canister connector 100 only receives andmanages reduced pressure associated with the first reduced-pressureconduit 122 and the second reduced-pressure conduit 132. In thisalternative embodiment, the patient-port-attachment member 152 and thereduced-pressure-port attachment member 168 are coupled and secured in aspaced relationship by a spacing member 180.

In another illustrative embodiment, the medical canister connector 100receives and manages reduced pressure associated with the firstreduced-pressure conduit 122 and the second reduced-pressure conduit 132and the reduced pressure associated with first pressure-sensing conduit124 and the second pressure-sensing conduit 140. In this illustrativeembodiment, the pressure transport member 178 serves as the spacingmember and couples and secures in spaced relationship thepatient-port-attachment member 152 and the reduced-pressure-portattachment member 168. The pressure transport member 178 facilitatestransportation of the reduced pressure between the firstpressure-sensing conduit 124 and the second pressure-sensing conduit140. The transport of the reduced pressure by the pressure transportmember 178 may be by an integral chamber or passageway connecting thepressure-sensing conduits 124, 140 or by clips or channels that secure aconduit that fluidly couples the pressure-sensing conduits 124, 140.

The pressure transport member 178 or the spacing member 180 may be usedas part of the medical canister connector 100 to hold the firstconnection member 126 and the second connection member 162 in theirrelative positions and yet to allow flexibility. The pressure transportmember 178 has a first end 182 and a second end 184. The first end 182of the pressure transport member 178 is coupled to the first connectionmember 126, and the second end 184 of the pressure transport member 178is coupled to the second connection member 162. The pressure transportmember 178 may be a solid conduit, or passageway, formed in the medicalcanister connector 100 that transports the pressure from the firstpressure-sensing conduit 124 to the second pressure-sensing conduit 140.Alternatively, as shown, the pressure transport member 178 may include adevice, e.g., a channel or clip, for holding the first pressure-sensingconduit 124 as the first pressure-sensing conduit 124 runs the length ofthe medical canister connector 100 to exit at the secondpressure-sensing conduit 140. In the latter situation, the pressuretransport member 178 may have a channel 186 and a plurality of clips 188to releasably couple the first pressure-sensing conduit 124/secondpressure-sensing conduit 140 to the medical canister connector 100.

Again, in an alternative embodiment, in the situation in which themedical canister connector 100 is for use with only a firstreduced-pressure conduit 122 and a second reduced-pressure conduit 132,the spacing member 180 holds the first connection member 126 and thesecond connection member 162 in their relative positions but does nottransport reduced pressure for sensing. The spacing member 180 has afirst end 190 and a second end 192. The first end 190 of the spacingmember 180 is coupled to the first connection member 126, and the secondend 192 of the spacing member 180 is coupled to the second connectionmember 162. The spacing member 180 may further include a support rib 194to provide additional strength and stability. When both the pressuretransport member 178 and the spacing member 180 are included, thepressure transport member 178 and the spacing member 180 may cooperateto hold the first connection member 126 and the second connection member162 in their relative positions and to allow flexibility. The pressuretransport member 178 and the spacing member 180 may be the same member.

The medical canister connector 100 is formed from a flexible materialthat allows the medical canister connector 100 to move and twist in alimited manner but adequately to allow the patient-port opening 154 tointerface with the patient port 148 on the medical canister 144 while atthe same time the reduced-pressure-port opening 172 interfaces with thereduced-pressure port 150 on the medical canister 144. In this way, themedical canister connector 100 is designed to assume at least twopositions: a free position in which the patient-port opening 154 and thereduced-pressure-port opening 172 are spaced and aligned to engage thepatient port 148 and the reduced-pressure port 150 at the same time, anda loading position in which the medical canister connector 100 is flexedand positioned to allow the patient-port opening 154 to go on to thepatient port 148 at the same time that the reduced-pressure-port opening172 goes on to the reduced-pressure port 150.

One way to describe the flex, or movement, of the medical canisterconnector 100 in one illustrative embodiment is with reference to thefirst longitudinal axis 157 and the second longitudinal axis 174. In atwo dimensional elevational view, the first longitudinal axis 157 andthe second longitudinal axis 174, or at least their projections,intersect to form an angle alpha (α). In the free position, the anglealpha (α) is about 90 degrees as shown. When flexing the medicalcanister connector 100 to the loading position, the angle alpha (α) maybe extended to 95, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180 degreesor more or any angle therein. In addition, the medical canisterconnector 100 might be twisted axially about the pressure transportmember 178 or spacing member 180 or might be twisted about the firstlongitudinal axis 157 or second longitudinal axis 174. The twisting maybe between 1-90 degrees or more.

As previously noted, the medical canister connector 100 is formed from aflexible material that allows the medical canister connector 100 to moveand twist. An elastic polymer might be used to form the medical canisterconnector 100. For example, the medical canister connector 100 may beformed from a soft thermoplastic polymer, such as polyvinyl chloride(PVC), or from a thermoset polymer, such as silicone. Still otherpolymers and materials, e.g., a flexible composite, might be used aswell. The medical canister connector 100 may be formed in a number ofways, such as by injection molding, thermoforming, thermosettting, orovermolding, substractive machining.

There are a number of ways that the medical canister connector 100 maybe applied onto the lid 146 of the medical canister 144 and only oneillustrative example will now be given. According to one illustrativemanner of installing the medical canister connector 100, the healthcareprovider may place their hand on the pressure transport member 178 orspacing member 180 to lift the medical canister connector 100 and putthe medical canister connector 100 near the lid 146 of canister 144. Thepatient-port opening 154 may then be maneuvered so that the patient port148 of the canister lid 146 enters, at least partially, the patient-portopening 154. The healthcare provider may pull, or rotate, on thepressure transport member 178 or spacing member 180. This causes themedical canister connector 100 to flex and causes the angle alpha (α) toincrease beyond 90 degrees. Then, if not already aligned, the medicalcanister connector 100 may be twisted about the first longitudinal axis157 so that the reduced-pressure-port opening 172 aligns with thereduced-pressure port 150 on the lid 146. The healthcare provider maypush the patient port 148 a little further into the patient-port opening154 and release the force on the pressure transport member 178 orspacing member 180 so that the angle alpha (α) decreases. As the anglealpha (α) decreases, the reduced-pressure port 150 extends further intothe reduced-pressure-port opening 172. From there, the healthcareprovider may push the medical canister connector 100 further onto thelid 146. The medical canister connector is thus fully connected to themedical canister 144. The medical canister connector 100 attaches to themedical canister 144 in only one way and thereby reduces or eliminatesthe possibility of error. The medical canister connector 100 maytypically be applied by the healthcare provider with one hand.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been disclosed inthe context of certain illustrative, non-limiting embodiments, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions, permutations, andalterations can be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled) 6.(canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled) 11.(canceled)
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. (canceled)16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled)
 18. A method of manufacturing a medicalcanister connector comprising forming a body from a soft thermoplasticpolymer, the body comprising: a first connection member for coupling toa first reduced-pressure delivery conduit and for coupling to a firstpressure-sensing conduit; a patient-port attachment member for couplingto a patient port on the medical canister and having a patient-portopening and a first longitudinal axis, the first patient-port attachmentmember coupled to the first connection member; a second connectionmember for coupling to a second reduced-pressure delivery conduit andfor coupling to a second pressure-sensing conduit; areduced-pressure-port attachment member for coupling to areduced-pressure port on the medical canister and having areduced-pressure-port opening and a second longitudinal axis; a pressuretransport member having a first end and a second end, the first end ofthe pressure transport member coupled to the first connection member andthe second end of the pressure transport member coupled to the secondconnection member; and wherein the medical canister connector has a freeposition and wherein the canister is operable to be maneuvered into aloading position.
 19. The method of manufacturing of claim 18 whereinthe step of forming a body from a soft thermoplastic polymer comprisesinjection molding the body as an integral body.
 20. The method ofmanufacturing of claim 18 wherein the step of forming a body from a softthermoplastic polymer comprises injection molding the body frompolyvinyl chloride (PVC).
 21. The method of manufacturing of claim 18wherein the step of forming a body from a soft thermoplastic polymercomprises injection molding the body from silicone.
 22. The method ofmanufacturing of claim 18 wherein the step of forming a body from a softthermoplastic polymer comprises thermoforming the body.
 23. The methodof manufacturing of claim 18 wherein the step of forming a body from asoft thermoplastic polymer comprises thermosettting the body.
 24. Amethod of releasably connecting a medical canister, which has a patientport and a reduced-pressure port, to a first reduced-pressure conduit, afirst pressure-sensing conduit, a second reduced-pressure conduit, and asecond pressure-sensing conduit, the method comprising the steps:providing a medical canister connector comprising: a first connectionmember for coupling to the first reduced-pressure delivery conduit andfor coupling to the first pressure-sensing conduit, a patient-portattachment member for coupling with the patient port on the medicalcanister and having a patient-port opening and a first longitudinalaxis, the first patient-port attachment member coupled to the firstconnection member, a second connection member for coupling to the secondreduced-pressure delivery conduit and for coupling to the secondpressure-sensing conduit, a reduced-pressure-port attachment member forcoupling to the reduced-pressure port on the medical canister and havinga reduced-pressure-port opening and a second longitudinal axis, apressure transport member having a first end and a second end, the firstend of the pressure transport member coupled to the first connectionmember and the second end of the pressure transport member coupled tothe second connection member, and wherein the medical canister connectorhas a free position and wherein the canister is operable to bemaneuvered into a loading position; providing a flexing force on thepressure transport member such that an angle alpha (α), which is formedby the intersection of the first longitudinal axis and the secondlongitudinal axis, is greater than 90 degrees and so that thepatient-port opening interfaces with the patient port on the medicalcanister while the reduced-pressure-port opening interfaces with thereduced-pressure port on the medical canister; and releasing the flexingforce.
 25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step ofcoupling the first pressure sensing conduit to the pressure transportmember.